3 Pieces of Advice on Buying Your Child’s First Piano

Buying a new piano can be a daunting task, especially if you are not a pianist or musician yourself - it can be difficult to determine which piano to buy or whether you should invest in purchasing a piano at all. Contributed by Hiyori Matsushima for the Roland Australia Blog During my years of working in music retail, selling both acoustic and digital pianos, some of the most asked questions asked by parents (wondering aimlessly in the shop) were: 1) My child’s piano teacher said “Buy a piano with full size, weighted keys”. What does this mean? 2) Should I buy…

TM-6 PRO vs SPD-SX: Which Is Right For Me?

When it comes to triggering samples and loops on stage or in the studio, the SPD-SX is hands-down the most popular instrument used today. It has become the standard sampling accessory at music venues and festivals the world over since its inception in 2003. While the popularity of the SPD-SX pad is undeniable, some musicians…

How To Record A Whole Band In Your Home Studio

Before powerful home computers were commonplace, music recording required a considerable investment in hardware. Commercial studios were one of the only ways to access sophisticated recording equipment. While it can seem daunting at first, producing quality recordings at home is a perfectly achievable goal. All it takes is some recording/mixing knowledge, and some key pieces…

The Parent’s Guide For Kids Starting To Learn Piano

Picture the scene… your smiling nine year old takes a bow from the stage to an applauding crowd at the school concert. It’s surely one of the proudest moments for any parent. Most likely, you’ve heard or read about the importance of learning music for children. But… you may be wondering, where to start? I…

System-8 Free Update – Brand New JX-3P & FM Synth Engine!

Over the past few months Roland have released two massive updates for the System-8 PLUG-OUT synthesizer! The updates introduced classic FM oscillators, a collection of new filters to use in the System-8 mode and a brand new PLUG-OUT version of a classic Roland synth, the JX-3P. Contributed by Zachary Odgers for the Roland Australia Blog…

Aerophone GO – A Student’s Perspective

Hello, I’m Caitlin and I’m a 15 year old saxophonist, pianist and clarinettist in Year 10 at Conservatorium High School in Sydney, Australia. I have played piano for 11 years, clarinet for 4 and saxophone for 6 months. Though I’m relatively new to the saxophone, I love playing and in two weeks will be sitting…

The BOSS Pedal Project – One Man’s Journey To Collect Every BOSS Pedal Ever Made

There are BOSS fans, and then there are BOSS fans. Today, our blog takes a brief break from focusing on our usual guides and tutorials, and puts the spotlight onto the very awesome BOSS Pedal Project. If you haven’t checked it out yet, the BOSS Pedal Project is essentially exactly that – one man’s quest…

Drummer’s Guide To The TD-17

Welcome to the complete guide to the TD-17! Use this guide as a goto resource of practical how-to’s for the TD-17. This guide starts with setting up and configuring the kit and covers the many possibilities for creative and productive practice and performance. Contributed by Simon Ayton for the Roland Australia Blog SETUP CONFIGURING THE…

5 Reasons Why You Need A GO:MIXER

The Roland GO:MIXER is an easy and, dare we say, fun way to record. It delivers the kind of crystal clear audio a smartphone can only dream of recording! With plug and play functionality, you can record multiple sources of high quality audio straight into your phone. Let’s check out 5 ways you can use the GO:MIXER to…

Metal Zone – You’re Using It Wrong

It’s funny – everyone has an opinion on the trusty ol’ Metal Zone. And we think we know why – it’s because almost everyone has owned one at some point since its release all the way back in 1991 (yes, your first year MT-2 is almost vintage now!). Now you might be thinking – what…

How Roland and Karimoku Carved a New Piano

KIYOLA is created by a unique collaboration of two companies from different industries. Electronic music instrument maker, Roland and furniture designer Karimoku – a furniture maker known for its deep understanding and love of timber. Karimoku’s goal is to create a piano that has great harmony with the home interior, and one that the player…